Vapor-rectifier.



P. H. THOMAS. VAPOR nscnflsn. "APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 1904.

Patented Jim 27, 1916 5444; aM/toz attomm CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PERCY H. THOMAS, 015 EAST ORANGE, NEW JEEsEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTs, To COOPER HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, or HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A

VAPOR-RECTIFIER.

ratenteu'aa e 2a, 1916.

' Original application filed March 5, 1903, Serial No. 146,282. Divided and this application filed .Tune 14,

1904. Serial No. 212,476.

I To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PERCY H. THOMAS, acitizen of the United States, and resident of East Orange, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and use-' ful Improvements in Vapor-Rectifiers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the employment of an electro-magnet, induction coil, or other means of storing electrical.

energy for keeping alive a vapor apparatus to maintain it in operation.

It is known that when the circuit. of an electro-magnet is interrupted, the energy stored in the coils of the magnet tends to discharge itself in the same direction as that of the original flow. It is also'known that the vapor electric devices are adapted to be traversed by currents of one direction after the original negative electrode resistance has been broken down while currents of opposite direction are opposed by a prohibitive resistance. So long as the resistance remains broken down, currents of the proper dlrection will pass through the apparatus.

The distinguishing feature of the present invention is that I place an electro-magnet, induction coil, or other means for storing electrical energy in a shunt circuit upon a vapor electric apparatus, locating the inductance in series with the negative electrode of'the' device and connecting one of its terminals to one end of the shunt circuit,

the opposite end of whichis joined to a supplemental positive electrode in the vapor apparatus.

During the normal operation of the apparatus, the alternations which pass through it afi'ect the coil of the inductance device which is thereby caused to store energy which may be discharged through the shunt circuit already described whenever the current applied to the main electrodes of the apparatus is not in itself suflicient to prevent the restoration of the resistance at the negative electrode. The reactance of the in-' ductance is such as to impress upon the vapor within the container an electro-motive-force in the right direction for mainthe apparatus.

The described arrangement may be 'utilized either for keeping the apparatus alive when such apparatus is itself a translating device, or for maintaining it in operative condition so that it may-supply electrical energy to a work or receiving circuit. The drawing showsa diagrammatic illustration of the connections used in my invention.

In the drawing, the container is shown at 1, the negative electrode at 2, two positive electrodes at 3 and l, and a third or supple-- mental positive electrode at 5. .The electrode 5 is connected by a conductor, 6, with the negative electrode 2 through an inductance device, 7.

The alternating source is shown at 8 as comprising in the present instance the primary, 9, of a transformer whose secondary is shown at 10. An intermediate point of the secondary, 10, is connected by a conductor, 11, with one side of the work cir-,

cuit, the opposite side being connected through the inductance device 7 with the negative electrode2.. The terminals of the secondary 10 are joined by conductors12 and 13, to the leads extending to' the positive electrodes 3 and 4, respectively.

The function of the inductance 7 is to maintain current through the gas or vvapor electric apparatus in a uniform directionduring the periods when the current applied to the electrodes 3 and 4 is not in itself suflicient to prevent the restoration of the resistance at the negative electrode. At such times as the current from the source is sufficient for the purpose named, the inductance 7 is not required, but when the cessation of current from the source intervenes, or when the current from the source passes below acertain limit, the reactive efiect'of the inductance is such as to impress upon the vapor in the container an electro-motiveforce of the proper direction for continuing the apparatus in operation. By virtue of the natural characteristics of gas or vapor electric apparatus of this sort, the electrode 5 cannot become a negative electrode with taining the normal direction of flow through respect to either of the positive electrodes 3 and 4 until the initial resistance at the electrode 5 is overcome. will be no danger of a short-circuit through the conductor 6 around the inductance 7 in the normal operation of the device.

This application is a division of my application Serial Number 146,282, filed March 5,1903.

I claim as my invention I 1. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination with a single phase alternating source, a rectifier including an exhausted container and a plurality of electrodes therein, and a work circuit, of an inductance transmitting energy alternately from the two sides of the said source and a by path including a supplemental anode in said container, said by path being traversed by energy discharged from said inductance.

,2. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination with a single phase source having a terminal at an intermediate point, a rectifier comprising an exhausted container and suitable electrodes, and a work circuit, of an inductance rent from both alternations of said source, said current also traversing the work circuit and entering sald'terminal at said intermediate point and means for permitting double frequency discharges of said inductance to traverse a supplemental anode in said container during the natural zero points of the voltage of said source.

3. In a system of electrical distribution,

Accordingly, there traversed by curthe combination with a single phase alterthe combination with a vapor rectifier, an

alternating supply and an inductance connected between the cathode of said rectifier and an intermediate point of said sup ly and a supplemental anode in said rectiiier receiving discharges from said inductance.

5. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination with a vapor rectifier, an alternating supply and an energy storing device connected between the cathode of said rectifier and an intermediate point of said supply and a supplemental anode in said rectifier receiving discharges from said energ storing device.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, 10th day of June, A. D. 1904.

PERCY H. THOMAS Witnesses:

WM. H. CAJPEL,

Gmo. H. STOCKBRIDGE.

traverslng said work Gil and, State of New York, this I 

